Friday, February 16, 2018

It illustrates what he has to pay for his one month supply of insulin.

Three, little vials.

$808.00!

He says he now works a second job so he can afford the insulin.

The real shame in this matter is that he HAS health insurance.

With a major insurer: Blue Cross Blue Shield.

His dilemma is that he has to pay out of pocket up to $7K!

WHAT THE #$@!!!!!!!???

I know very few people who can afford to pay for rent/mortgage, utilities, homeowner's insurance, earthquake insurance, car payments, car maintenance, food AND a monthly, eight-hundred-dollar insulin tab!

MADNESS, I say! MADNESS!

Until we demand that our elected, government officials pay for their own healthcare, they'll never give a damn about ours. As a whole, we, the people, MUST get to the polls and kick out EVERY, SINGLE representative who doesn't do what we want them to do.

On Facebook, I praised Kehinde's portrait and passive-aggressively poo-pooed Amy's.

Since I didn't think her portrait looked enough like Michelle, I summarily dismissed it.

And that was immature of me to do since I had no idea what her artistry is about. My response to it was visceral. No thought at all.

After reading this New York Times profile of Amy, I realized I needed to take a closer look at her portrait of Michelle. And when I did, I saw something different.

I saw Michelle.

No, not an exact replica, but I saw Michelle.

The NY Times article also compelled me to see that Amy is an INSPIRATION. She paints because she believes it's her reason for being alive. And because she doesn't think she knows how to do anything else. Haaa! Doesn't that sound familiar?

I applaud Kehinde and Amy for being the first artists who look like them to be invited to share their immense talent on such a national scale.

It never ceases to amaze me the lofty heights one can reach with a lot of discipline mixed with a little blood, sweat and tears.

He told me he graduated from Broad Ripple High School, which is closing as a high school soon. He also said he attended my alma mater, John Marshall High School, but after it had been transformed into a middle school. It, too, is closing.

He also said he attended Purdue University for two or three years, then broke out to begin an acting career. His stint on Tyler Perry's Love They Neighbor is where I first saw him, but I didn't realize that 'til I just looked him up.

I had never heard of her until yesterday. And when I first read the title of an article about her suicide, my heart dropped.

All I could think was, why?

Her family believes her demise is the direct result of simply not being able to take the attention thrust upon her by Rose McGowan and Harvey Weinstein in this #MeToo movement.

I suspect Jill received ugly messages from people who believed she was complicitous in protecting Harvey Weinstein. And was also probably worried about her livelihood being affected adversely because of the media attention. Heck, maybe she had already taken a career blow, which pushed her over the edge.

At present, only her family knows the particulars. I have to admit, I hope she left behind a note. A note that we, the public, get to read some day.

What I know for sure is that very few people can handle the feeling of being a lone wolf against the world. People need community. And for many, that means lots of community.

People need unsullied reputations.

People need to know that life is difficult.

Sometimes.

Or oftentimes.

Curiosity truly has me wondering about the specifics of what caused her to end her life.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Years ago, a bride invited me to her wedding in San Diego. She is the sister of one of my gay friends from New York City. When she invited me, she told me that, if I came to the wedding, I couldn't bring a male partner. She didn't believe in same-sex unions. She told the same thing to her brother, who did have a partner. He was highly insulted that his partner couldn't attend with him, so he decided not to go.

I went.

Alone.

And I had a great time.

I wasn't offended by her request. And I wasn't offended because, to me, it was HER wedding. And her wedding should have been precisely as she wanted it. I could either attend, or not. No biggie to me.

Shortly after the wedding, I told one of my sisters about the bride's wishes. And she told me that if I were to have a marriage ceremony with someone of the same sex, she wouldn't attend the event.

She made it clear that she, too, didn't believe in same-sex unions.

Truth be told, her statement didn't upset me, either. Not in the least. And it didn't upset me because I truly believe in respecting the beliefs of others as I'd want them to respect mine.

People don't have to agree on everything.

But their disagreement should be respectfully communicated.

The video below has polarized viewers. Some believe the mother is horrible. Others believe the son is being too thin-skinned.

I watched the video, and I truly listened to both parties. And I respect what each had to say.

Sometimes, what we want, and what others want, are in direct opposition.

It's best for our psychological well-being to accept that fact, and keep it movin'.

If anybody I know chooses not to attend any event I invite them to, I'll accept their decision without resentment. My event would still go on. And I'll still set out to have the time of my life during the event.